Chapter 6 - One Simple Request
#7 of Legends of Azell
Meanwhile, in the capital port city of Milan in Agualica, the city was slowly dieing down for the day. In a shallow alleyway sat a young otter dressed in a blue naval coat with white pants and vest. He held a bottle of extremely cheap bottle of wine in his hand at his left side. Upon on his hip was a very ornately made rapier. He sighed heavily as he took a light swig of the wine and swallowed. He knew he needed more for sustenance, but this was all he could afford. In the past, he was a mercenary for a maritime company that hires out body guards to save guard merchant ships heading out to the Red Court and keep them safe from pirates. Lately, thanks to new international trade laws within the continent, the cheaper upkeep of cannons now on the ships all but phased out his job. All he has left is the clothes on his back, and the bottle of wine in his paw.
"Well Rufari old boy..." he sighed heavily as he looked at the bottle of wine he squandered what little money he had left. "Hope you get some work soon, or tomorrow, this will be it..."
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of sapphire blue eyes was laid upon him. They belonged to a cloaked young female blue jay, obviously trying to keep a low profile. She watched the otter from afar for a while in wonder. THIS is what has happened to the great Rufari? She thought to herself as she slowly began to approach him. The otter quickly corked the wine as she stood before him,
"Are you Rufari? The Maritime Mercenary?" she asked
"Depends..." he replied, "Is this regarding a job?"
"Yes." She said as she pulled her hood off.
He gave a light chuckle as he realized whom he was talking to. "So, the Princess asking the vagrant for help..."
She placed a finger over her beak to hush him. "Listen to Me Rufari. I want you to be my bodyguard. As you may know my mother put up a grand reward for my return, and I will need some assistance so she doesn't catch me! I do a lot of adventuring and selling what I find, so I'm willing to pay."
Rufari slowly stood up. Thankfully, he didn't drink a lot so he wasn't useless. "Will this be a permanent job?" he asked.
"Yes, even when I do return home to Avindar, I will keep you on as a guard." She said solemnly.
"You don't have to pay me, I very simple requests. All I require are a roof over my head, a bath, and sustenance. I will accept that instead of payment" he said
"REALLY?!" she replied with a smile. "Worry not dear otter, I shall fulfill your request" she said as she held her claw out to shake upon their arrangement.
Before the two could shake, there is suddenly a trio of unsavory characters, a rat a fox and a badger, garbed in what could only be described as rags came up to the two.
"Princess Aura..." said a the fox who stood between the other to. "Yo mamma lookin' fer ya. Willin' to pay a lotta money to get ya back."
The otter sighed and slowly stood between them and the young princess. "Gentlemen," he said politely, "You've no idea what you have gotten yourself into. Princess Aura has hired me in order to see she DOESN'T go home. Do if you don't want any harm to come to you, I'd suggest you leave the princess alone..."
The fox couldn't help but laugh. "Really? What kind of vagrant such as yourself expect to protect a princess?!"
Without any hesitation, the otter quickly brandished his weapon and directly pointed to the fox's Adam's apple. The blade was still about the only thing about the otter that he was able to maintain. The otter showed no emotion as he kept the pointed blade near the fox's throat. "Vagrant, am I?" he questioned. "I, sir, am Rufari, a world class fencer, and world famous for causing a pirate to turn tail as quick as the realize that this would be the day they crossed path with Rufari The Rapier Dancer!"
"R... Rufari?!" exclaimed the rat suddenly as he started backing away. "I'd rather have my two front teeth taken out then deal with that!!!!! I'm outta here!" with that, the three bandits began running away just as quickly as they originally appeared.
The princess blushed a bit as the otter turned to face her, while replacing his rapier back in its sheath. "Looks like I'm definitely getting my money's worth." She said to the otter and smiled.
"Shall we to the inn my liege?" he said softly.
She couldn't help but smile. She knew that this was the man for the job to protect her. Perhaps there was a little bit of intrigue and interest in her eyes as the two slowly walked to the inn further near the outside of he city.